Fighting RSV with Maternal Immunization

In this episode of the WSPID Podcast, hosts Dr. Alicia Chang and Dr. Linny Phuong come together to discuss RSV and the developments surrounding maternal immunization and therapeutics.  Featuring an insightful interview with A/Prof Flor Muñoz, MD, MSc, who is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, and Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. This conversation highlights the need for global collaboration and resources to implement these preventative measures. This episode was recorded in May 2024, and may not take into account differing RSV vaccine programs and distribution of new RSV therapeutics internationally, for babies, pregnant women and older persons. Highlights: RSV is a common respiratory virus which can cause lower respiratory tract disease in babies, especially in the first few months of life.Maternal immunization with RSV vaccines can boost protective antibody levels in pregnant women and provide passive immunity to their babies.Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made antibodies that target a specific part of the RSV virus and can be given to babies to provide immediate protection.Implementation of RSV preventative measures requires collaboration, resources, and understanding of local epidemiology. Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and make sure to share the show with your colleagues and peers. WSPID Podcast is brought to you by the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases.  The World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID) is a non-profit organization and a confederation of national and international Pediatric Infectious Diseases (PID) societies. Here at WSPID, we want to know your thoughts on the Syndromic Insights series. Please complete this survey with your valuable feedback. Thank you. You can connect with WSPID on the following pages: www.wspid.org https://www.linkedin.com/company/wspid-world-society-for-pediatric-infectious-diseases/about/ www.facebook.com/WSPID www.twitter.com/WSPID Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to RSV and the Need for Preventative Therapies 14:21 The Development of RSV Vaccines for Pregnant Women 32:10 Monoclonal Antibodies: Providing Immediate Protection Against RSV 39:12 Challenges in Implementing RSV Preventative Measures 41:43 Global Collaboration for RSV Prevention